My Vincentian Journey: Finding My Place in the Plan
God has a plan for all of us. He knows how we fit into his plan long before we do. Sometimes our own plans for life might not go the way we expect, and we may even feel confused or alone. I have learned that if we trust God and look for ways to be of service to Him, He will guide us. I never thought my life would look the way it does today, but I am grateful! When I was lost, I turned to God, tried to act with love, and found my purpose and direction by serving others.
Growing up, my parents where very involved in church and set good examples of service. My mother brought me along when she took food to families that struggled with poverty or were going through hard times, and we talked with them to share support and friendship. I remember bringing toys to poor communities as a part of my time in the Girl Scouts. These early memories remain with me. When we needed help, our neighbors and friends were there for us as well. These memories are my guiding examples of Christian charity and neighborly love. I was destined to be a Vincentian from the start!
When I went off to college in California, I felt alone for the first time. I was in the big city of LA, surrounded by strangers who only spoke English. I was looking for friends and saw an opportunity to meet people at community service projects on campus. I got involved by joining a group that needed Spanish speakers to help migrant families. Some of the friends I served with are still very close to me to this day! I learned about the specific needs of the migrant population, supported the laborers in Latin America, and experienced the complexity of navigating and organizing charitable organizations. When I thought I was alone, God was there guiding me towards new lifelong friendships and opening my eyes to how I could help make the world a better place.
When I graduated, I entered the world of financial planning. I quickly threw myself completely into the financial world. It was challenging to be a woman on Wall Street, but it became my plan to rise up and become a financial planning superstar. I felt independent, invincible, and unstoppable. Those illusions were unexpectedly shattered when my car was struck by a wayward bus. I went from running towards my career goals to having to learn how to walk again.
But God sends us angels in challenging times. My “roommate” at the hospital cried and laughed with me. We also prayed together, and still share a deep relationship founded on God’s love and support each other through hard times. The man that helped me learn to walk again would eventually become my husband. I had never felt less capable in my life, but the heart is always capable of love. When I was thrown off course, God put angels in my life that would give me new meaning and purpose.
Being a mother is not always easy. Many years after leaving Wall Street, I found myself the mother of two wonderful boys. Back in 2012, I was scared and felt lost. One son was fighting in the war in Iraq, and the other was about to move away for college. I prayed after Mass, and our parish pastor noticed. Father talked to me, then told me to follow him. We walked into the parish offices, and I found myself in a small room with files and supplies strewn about. I met a Vincentian who said they could use some help. I didn’t know at the time how much of an influence that Vincentian would have on my life and my spiritual journey.
I began my Vincentian service by mostly translating for clients and supporting other Vincentians. I initially struggled and was not good at conducting interviews at all. I almost quit completely, feeling very heartbroken and sad about it. I was very good at organizing the messy office, so I focused on that. Some of the long-term Vincentians grumbled when I spent my time filing away their forms and organized all the file cabinets. Some grumbled enough to drive me away for a time, but after those that had grumbled began appreciating the increases in efficiency and process improvements, they asked me to return. Father needed help preparing for an upcoming National Assembly meeting, and it was there where I found a role in leadership and organization. My life was messy and unpredictable, but I found a role by helping others get organized and more effectively plan out their service.
God has a path for all of us which can be very different from our own plans. The most challenging parts of my life have always led to opportunities to serve God in unexpected ways.
Yours in Christ,
Isabel Darcy
National Vice President, Southeast Region
